Twice in the last two weeks, innocent drivers have died during police pursuits in Broward County.

In both instances, the pursuits ended in deadly crashes after police attempted what is known as a PIT maneuver to try to force the suspect’s car to stop. 

PIT stands for Precision Immobilization Technique. They’re considered high-risk and controversial. Some law enforcement agencies don’t use them at all. 

Hollywood Police executed a successful PIT maneuver on Feb. 6 when officers say Christopher Campo was driving a Honda Accord recklessly and sped up to as much as 125 mph. The PIT maneuver safely brought Campo into custody.

“You want to get close enough to the car into the side and turn into it and force it into an uncontrolled spin,” said Rick Diaz, a former detective with Miami-Dade Police. “You might have a second impact, and you want to keep your car in contact until it makes a full stop,” said Diaz, speaking from the perspective of a police officer initiating the technique.

But twice in February, two innocent drivers died at the scene of a PIT maneuver. 

Bonnie Bouffard, 74, was killed on the Turnpike Thursday when she was hit by a suspect’s vehicle that was the target of a PIT maneuver. 

“She loved playing bingo, she liked to do a little gambling, fishing and loved floating down the river and kayaking, going out and having fun,” said Bouffard’s friend, Cindy Scurry. “That’s the kind of person she was and I’m sure going to miss her.”

Ronald Wilson, 72, died on Feb. 16 when a Broward Sheriff’s Office K9 deputy failed to stop a suspect in a pursuit and unsuccessfully tried a PIT maneuver in Tamarac. The deputy crashed into Wilson instead.

Diaz argues the technique should only be available to officers who are highly trained in executing one. He adds they should be used as a last resort.

“PIT maneuvers are very, very dangerous and high risk,” Diaz said. ”Today, with drones, aviation support, police radio, it’s very hard to justify a PIT maneuver because the subject’s not going to get away.”

BSO’s policy on PIT maneuvers allows it to be used in an authorized pursuit. It’s described as “a safe and effective way to end pursuits” when done correctly.

Diaz added that when complete, each PIT maneuver goes under an administrative review. Regardless of the findings, he says, it is sent to the State Attorney’s Office to decide whether to file charges against the officer involved, if there was an excessive use of force.

The suspects arrested after Bouffard and Wilson were killed are now in jail, charged with their deaths.